May 1945: A Soviet soldier putting his signature on a column of the Reichstag, Germany. The words over the statue show that a Major Iakovlev fought all his way from Moscow to Berlin. (Photo by Alex Morozov/Slava Katamidze Collection/Getty Images)

May 1945: A Soviet soldier putting his signature on a column of... Photo-10421318.131304 - seattlepi.com

Image 6 of 46

US troops of the 69th Infantry Division (left), shake hands with Russian troops in a staged photo on the wrecked bridge over the Elbe at Torgau, Germany, to mark the previous day's link-up between American and Soviet forces, 26th April 1945. Among the Americans are Bernard E. Kirschenbaum and Richard Johnson (second and third from left, respectively). (Photo by Allan Jackson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

US troops of the 69th Infantry Division (left), shake hands with Russian troops in a staged photo on the wrecked bridge over the Elbe at Torgau, Germany, to mark the previous day's link-up between American and

Operation Barbarossa, A Russian T34 tank has been abandoned in a sunflower field. 1942. It was used in the defense of Russia against the German-led invasion on the Eastern Front. Soviet Union. (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images)

Operation Barbarossa, A Russian T34 tank has been abandoned in a sunflower field. 1942. It was used in the defense of Russia against the German-led invasion on the Eastern Front. Soviet Union. (Photo by Galerie

The 8th Guard of the Army of General Chuikov un the streets of Odessa April 1944. This army also participated im the liberation of Berlin 1945. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images)

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, German SS general Juergen Stroop (right of center) with his staff during the ghetto revolt. 8th May 1943. Left: A Jewish couple captured in a basement. Poland. (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images)

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, German SS general Juergen Stroop (right of center) with his staff during the ghetto revolt. 8th May 1943. Left: A Jewish couple captured in a basement. Poland. (Photo by Galerie

German prisoners huddle with soldiers from other Axis satellite countries, against the sharp winds of the Russian winter, after the defeat ot the German Army at Stalingrad, February 1943. (Photo by Archive Farms/Getty Images)

German prisoners huddle with soldiers from other Axis satellite countries, against the sharp winds of the Russian winter, after the defeat ot the German Army at Stalingrad, February 1943. (Photo by Archive

German prisoners huddle with soldiers from other Axis satellite... Photo-10421343.131304 - seattlepi.com

Image 16 of 46

17th January 1943: The streets of Stalingrad with apparently no buildings left standing after the devastating Russian attack on the encamped German army. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

17th January 1943: The streets of Stalingrad with apparently no buildings left standing after the devastating Russian attack on the encamped German army. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Photo: Keystone/Getty Images

17th January 1943: The streets of Stalingrad with apparently no... Photo-10421337.131304 - seattlepi.com

Image 17 of 46

A German machine gun crew against a background of ruined houses, holding their fire temporarily during streetfighting in a Soviet city during World war II, circa 1943. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

A German machine gun crew against a background of ruined houses, holding their fire temporarily during streetfighting in a Soviet city during World war II, circa 1943. (Photo by FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty

Operation Barbarossa, Two Wehrmacht soldiers are attacking a bunker on the Eastern Front in Russia. 1941. They are using the flamethrower 41 which was effective as far as 30 meter. They are part of over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers during the invasion of the USSR. Soviet Union. (Photo by Galerie Bilderwelt/Getty Images)

Operation Barbarossa, Two Wehrmacht soldiers are attacking a bunker on the Eastern Front in Russia. 1941. They are using the flamethrower 41 which was effective as far as 30 meter. They are part of over 4.5

circa 1943: A serpentine line stretches to the far horizon as German soldiers routed from their last forts in the vicinity of Stalingrad, are marched to prison camps. The stone blocks mark fortifications that had been blasted by Russian artillery. Trucks and artillery are part of the loot. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

circa 1943: A serpentine line stretches to the far horizon as German soldiers routed from their last forts in the vicinity of Stalingrad, are marched to prison camps. The stone blocks mark fortifications that

Jews from the Warsaw ghetto surrender to German soldiers after the uprising. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Jews from the Warsaw ghetto surrender to German soldiers after the uprising. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Photo: Keystone/Getty Images

Jews from the Warsaw ghetto surrender to German soldiers after the... Photo-10421347.131304 - seattlepi.com

Image 22 of 46

July 1942: A Soviet pilot waits in the cockpit as his warplane is prepared for flight. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

July 1942: A Soviet pilot waits in the cockpit as his warplane is prepared for flight. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

July 1942: A Soviet pilot waits in the cockpit as his warplane is... Photo-10421342.131304 - seattlepi.com

Image 23 of 46

Exhausted German troops surrendering to winter clad Russians outside of Moscow re effect of harsh winter on German fighting capabilities. (Photo by Time Life Pictures/Pictures Inc./The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Russian soldiers target the Germans from within an abandoned building during the Battle of Stalingrad, World War II, circa 1942. The soldier in motion on the left was killed before he reached the window. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Russian soldiers target the Germans from within an abandoned building during the Battle of Stalingrad, World War II, circa 1942. The soldier in motion on the left was killed before he reached the window.

Russian soldiers target the Germans from within an abandoned... Photo-10421353.131304 - seattlepi.com

Image 26 of 46

circa 1942: Four German dive-bombers of the Ju.87 type take off against the Russians in the Caucasus area. The Luftwaffe provided full support and cooperation for the Nazi advance in the Caucasus. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

circa 1942: Four German dive-bombers of the Ju.87 type take off against the Russians in the Caucasus area. The Luftwaffe provided full support and cooperation for the Nazi advance in the Caucasus. (Photo by

Dismounted cossacks in an offensive action, these cavalrymen ride to a point of attack, the two of every three men dismount, leave their horses in the care of the third and continue their attack on foot, world war 2, 1942. (Photo by: Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images)

Dismounted cossacks in an offensive action, these cavalrymen ride to a point of attack, the two of every three men dismount, leave their horses in the care of the third and continue their attack on foot, world

An Italian Macchi 200 fighter covered with a sheet in a base in the area between the river Dnieper and the Seversky Donets. Ukraine, April 1942 (Photo by Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

An Italian Macchi 200 fighter covered with a sheet in a base in the area between the river Dnieper and the Seversky Donets. Ukraine, April 1942 (Photo by Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

Photo: Mondadori Portfolio/Mondadori Via Getty Images

An Italian Macchi 200 fighter covered with a sheet in a base in... Photo-10421372.131304 - seattlepi.com

Image 42 of 46

World war 2, battle of stalingrad, 1942: general devastation and the wreck of a crashed nazi plane in the center of stalingrad during the battle for the city. (Photo by: Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images)

World war 2, battle of stalingrad, 1942: general devastation and the wreck of a crashed nazi plane in the center of stalingrad during the battle for the city. (Photo by: Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images)

Photo: SVF2/UIG Via Getty Images

World war 2, battle of stalingrad, 1942: general devastation and... Photo-10421373.131304 - seattlepi.com

Image 43 of 46

German motorcycle trooper invading eastwards, Russia, 1942. A print from Signal, September 1942. Signal was a magazine published by the German Third Reich from 1940 through 1945. (Photo by Art Media/Print Collector/Getty Images)

German motorcycle trooper invading eastwards, Russia, 1942. A print from Signal, September 1942. Signal was a magazine published by the German Third Reich from 1940 through 1945. (Photo by Art Media/Print